Part 21

Cutting The Drawer Tails

Lesson Objectives

Drawer making, quite possibly one of the most confusing and difficult milestones you’re likely to face as a beginner woodworker. This is a tricky process that requires a lot of planning, visualisation and accuracy. The lapped dovetails at the front will be a feature that makes or breaks your cabinet, and the dovetails at the back will be one of the most complicated joints you will have likely ever cut.

Please be aware that this lesson focuses primarily on the marking out stages of the drawer as this is the most important factor to achieving an accurate fit. 

Once the marking lines have been established, you should be pretty familiar with how to cut out the dovetails accurately with a saw and a chisel. 

If you do not feel confident with this process, please refer to the supporting resources below that will direct you to various tutorials that provide more in depth explanations of the steps you will cover.

A SketchUp View of the Drawer
Previous Lesson

Sizing the Drawer Components

Next Lesson

Fitting the Drawer Tails

Supporting Material

Click the images below to see supporting material helping you with this part of the project.

This video breaks down the entire process of cutting a lapped dovetail into minute steps. Perfect for those who need further clarification on this video.

This lesson will teach you the entire process of cutting a through dovetail from start to finish. (Back of the Drawer)

In this lesson, I show you how to mark out the dovetails on the dovetail box project we completed before this cabinet build. nb

Have you got the plans yet?

Package includes working drawings, a cutting list, and a 3d SketchUp model!

The Student Series

Want to see another beginner make this project before you? It’s a great way to scope out any mistakes before you make one yourself!

To Be Filmed

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